School board selects finalists for seat vacated by Elizabeth Hanson

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the process to ll the vacated seat on the Douglas County School Board, members selected three nalists with plans to appoint someone on June 27.

Following interviews with seven candidates on June 20, the school board chose Michael Burmeister, Brad Geiger, and Jason Page as nalists for the position. All three will be interviewed a second time on June 27 ahead of the board’s nal decision.

Burmeister is a substitute teacher for the school district and a retired Army o cer of 30 years with two students in Douglas County schools. He told the board he sees the role as a way for him to serve his community and said he would be a dedicated board member.

“I think the focus we need to have here is the kids and making sure they get a proper education, and on taking care of our teachers and sta ,” Burmeister said.

Burmeister said increasing teacher pay is a priority for him and he would support going to the voters with funding questions in November.

Geiger is an attorney who has volunteered with the district for nine years and currently serves on the Long-Range Planning Committee and the Mill Bond Exploratory Committee. His children graduated from Douglas County schools. Geiger said his knowledge of the district and experience with con ict resolution as a lawyer makes him a good t for the job.

“I know how this district works in ways you can only get by longterm volunteering or unless you sit at the dais,” Geiger said. “You need someone who can come in, sit down and have an intelligent, informed discussion about (policies) and help contribute.”

Geiger also supports increasing sta pay and asking voters for a bond and mill levy override this year.

Page works foar IT services company PwC and volunteered on the Long-Range Planning Committee and the board for Ben Franklin Academy, a Douglas County charter school, for two years. He has one student in the district. Page said he would bring strong communication and problem-solving skills to the board.

“I humbly believe my experience in the district over the past several years has prepared me to make a meaningful and immediate contribution as a member of the board,” Page said. “Being an e ective board member requires collaboration and ultimately the ability to make decisions that ensure out tax dollars are being used e ectively and e ciently in the best interest of the district.”

Like the other candidates, Page is supportive of making pay more competitive and putting funding questions on this November’s ballot.

Visit www.douglascountynewspress. net for updated information on the ongoing process.